Fibromyalgia Support Group

You're not alone in your pain. Fibromyalgia is a condition that can be difficult to diagnose and manage. If you're trying to cope with pain throughout your body, sleep problems, general fatigue, or other common fibromyalgia symptoms, you're in the right place. The community is here for you to talk about therapies and share your challenges.

Questions for smokers and others

Is it just me???
I am a smoker and I notice that a lot of days, my throat tends to go numb. To the pain where I can't feel myself swallow. I also get a lot of pain which I think comes from my nodes swelling up. Do any other smokers experience this?

I also would like to know if anyone has had any luck with finding a rheumatologist that is able to treat all of their symptoms? I ask because I cannot keep going to various doctors for many different symptoms. I have been to the cardiologist for chest pain, dermatologist for the skin rashes, ENT for the sinus and throat issues, Neurology for the nerve issues, Nephrology for the lower back pain, and the list goes on...but all is usually well with me! Should a rheumatologist be able to treat the various symptoms that come along with Fibro?

Ohhhh and can anyone shed light as to why it hurts my skin when I scratch? I may scratch my leg or my face and it will sting or feel like I am trying to tear my skin off.

i think fibro means extra sensitive... at least for me... i am extra sensitive to meds, pain, food, alcohol etc
i smoke, i have a lot of sinus problems and sore throat and swollen glands according to my ent from my chronic sinusitis... which is made worse by my smoking
i havent experienced the numb throat but i do have a problem of inhaling food and especially liquid into my lungs while eating and drinking my ent said i probably have a numbness/nerve damage causing me to aspirate

I&quot;ve never been to a rheumy but it's my understanding from talking to a lot of other people that they rarely treat fibromyalgia - only diagnose it. Not sure why that is other than the fact that it doesn't belong in their specialty, but they are the only ones &quot;trained&quot; to diagnose FMS.

Since research has moved away from FMS being in the &quot;arthritis family&quot; and moved toward it being a CNS disorder, it would more properly be treated by a neuro, but they're not yet trained so they don't know how to treat it.

Hi and thanx for the feedback. Well definitely Fibro is extra sensitive because some days a light touch will make me squirm. So I guess thats why me scratching myself hurts. But its not like that all the time, so its confusing. As far as the numbness in my throat, one ENT told me that its because of extra mucus (from smoking), and the other ENT told me it was the phlegmwhich I take is the same thing. I tried not smoking but that hasnt seemed to really make a difference so I continued to smoke. I initially thought that all were issues were the result of nerve damage but after having the EMG and Nerve test, that was ruled out. Its just so aggravating at times, one day its one thing, and the next day its something else. Today has been a good day for me so far though.

Hopefully some relief will be better aided soon. Thats interesting because my Neurologist referred me to the Rheumatoid dr. And the rheumy seemed hesitant to even discuss it. I guess all will be well in the futureits just the dealing with this crap now!

Nicotine is a potent muscle contractor and causes aggravation of muscle tension and spasm, leading to increased pain. Nicotine is also a stimulant and increases the mental tension, which in turn intensifies pre-existing muscular tension.

32. SMOKING -- NO ONE who is serious about their health should be smoking--least of all people with fibromyalgia! Smokers breathe in BILLIONS of free radicals with every puff. These free radicals greatly damage blood, tissues and cells.

Everyone knows smoking is not good for you. You don't need me, or anyone else, to tell you that.

But did you know that cigarette smoking may be particularly aggravating to a person with chronic fatigue syndrome and/or fibromyalgia?

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), is a condition that is closely linked to CFS and FM. And commercial cigarettes are loaded with chemicals.

Some chemicals found in commercial cigarettes:
Benzene
Formaldehyde
Ammonia
Acetone

That is by no means a complete list. But if you consider that chemicals trigger flares of CFS and/or FM, and that these chemicals are present in cigarettes, it might make you think twice about lighting up.

Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia patients often report that smoking helps alleviate their pain level. That is difficult to get past, because few things do ease the pain. But when weighed against the chemicals found in a commercial cigarette, the trade-off has a high price tag.

It is very difficult to stop, but there are much healthier stress relievers! Not only is it hurtful to you and your health but to everyone around you who breathes in the nasty smelling smoke.

Smoking Makes Fibromyalgia Symptoms Worse
Wednesday January 28, 2009
NEWSBRIEF: Two unrelated studies show that smoking cigarettes and using tobacco in other forms appears to make fibromyalgia symptoms more severe.

In a Mayo Clinic study, people using tobacco in any form had higher pain-intensity scores on the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, had fewer good days, and missed more days of work.

In a Turkish study, cigarette smokers with fibromyalgia had more severe symptoms and higher rates of anxiety and depression.

i get worse when around smokers &amp; get very bad chest pains, break out in red rash on chest &amp; get very agitated like i'm on speed &amp; neck muscles get very tight/head aches &amp; skin start itching like i want to pull it off!

tho i get a sore thoat quite often not being around smokers &amp; it comes &amp;goes sometimes while i'm talking my voice just goes out like i have largitis! so this might be a syptom that we all share whether we smoke or not! &amp; the skin too!= i itch horrible but more so when around smokers! I have to take showers to stop the itch &amp; use oatmeal paste w/ honey &amp; yogurt!

I've smoked for over 45 years and to be honest I've noticed no difference associated with the fibro pains being better or worse as a result of my smoking. Have not had the feeling of numbness in my throat not sure what that would be from ? Had sore throats when was younger but not only a couple times as a adult. Were you able to see the ent doctor while you were experiencing this problem ?

The word fibromyalgia comes from the Latin term for fibrous tissue (fibro) and the Greek ones for muscle (myo) and pain (algia)

I've also smoked forever...I quit last year for a month, than came down with Meningitis and Encephalitis...started back smoking afterr I got out of the hospital. I can't handle pain without smoking I KNOW HOW BAD IT IS.

Misunshine, thank you for the info about not smoking. I don't understand why or how you became so sensitive about the topic. That's like me getting all upset if someone said that they drink (which i cannot stand!)... but that is none of my business and it would only be my business to assist them, not lecture them or try to beat them down verbally. Ironically, I seem to have worst days when I do not smoke. I tried quitting for a few days, but the frustration that comes along with this illness and the panic attacks prompted me to start smoking again. I am baffled that u would say that one cannot be serious about their health if they smoke. I asked for advice not a sermon...but ur comments are appreciated anyway. If i become pregnant as I am wanting to, then I will def stop smoking.
Emerald: yes, i saw 2 different ENT's who sais that the numbness came from the excess musuc that is behind my nose. So the draining makes my throat feel numb. I will follow up with my PCP tomorrow. Thx!

I love smoking ! (I know how to quit just ask me, I've done it 100 times !)I quit in Jan. and just started again ! I noticed it does cause more mucus and nose running etc. My throat doesn't go numb tho. It can get really sore tho and then smells seem really harsh. I like a smoke as a nice non caloric treat after I finish a job ! It's my reward ! It also helps calm me down so I don't slap someone ! It's my chillpill and is not as obvious as a pacifier or sucking my thumb ! Ha ha ha ! I do have swallowing issues and choke on my own spit.I also get a mouth throat freezup when I drink cooladas. I don't know if a rhuemey can treat it ALL but they can treat a lot of things. It's worth a try !

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